Skilled Legal Guidance When You Are Charged with Jacksonville White-Collar Crimes

Experienced defense in Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges

RICO is a U.S. federal law that penalizes illegal acts committed by criminal organizations. Enacted in 1970, the law was originally intended largely for Mafia and other organized crime groups. It is presently applied widely, including in the following situations:

• Permitting charges against individuals or corporations that retaliate against anyone working with law enforcement
• Limiting abuses of the legal system when individuals or corporations use the courts to retaliate against whistle blowers, essentially preventing his or her speech
• Prosecuting police officials who provide protection for criminal offenders, such as drug smugglers, in exchange for cash
• Going after individuals who use a support network to commit illegal financial acts such as insider trading, and potentially indicting employers whose employees are convicted of RICO crimes while employed by them

One unusual RICO case successfully cited an activist group that acted illegally in support of its cause, even though the group had no financial motive for its actions.

Federal prosecutors can bring RICO charges against an individual any time there is an apparent connection the person’s actions and any larger organization, not just when organized crime is involved. If charged with a RICO crime, you immediately must retain a knowledgeable white-collar crime attorney. The criminal law firm of Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. in Jacksonville has extensive experience in this complex area of the law.

Federal prosecutors observe specific standards before issuing RICO charges

The U.S. Department of Justice requires government attorneys to consider many factors before seeking indictment under RICO, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Indictment under RICO should help ensure a sentence for conviction reflects the extent of the criminal conduct better than a sentence imposed for the underlying conduct.
• The prosecution should be able to combine related offenses that would otherwise require separate prosecutions in different jurisdictions.
• Cases involving violation of state laws should also relate to federal interests and benefit from federal prosecution.

Seek support from a Jacksonville white collar criminal defense law firm with specific RICO experience

If you face investigation or charges for allegedly committing a RICO crime, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to represent you and protect your rights — immediately. The criminal defense attorneys at Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. in Jacksonville have extensive experience in federal and state criminal cases, along with years of experience as federal prosecutors. We understand the intricate investigation strategies used by federal agencies to indict and attempt to convict those accused of white collar crime.

Contact us online or call our office today at 904-353-5800 to schedule a consultation at no cost or obligation to discuss your concerns.